2009 Classifieds
February 2009 Classifieds
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Feature
A Really Good Job by Tonya Cooner-Vots
The Moore family has a reputation for quality logging throughout central and eastern Virginia. This is a result of three generations immersed in the local logging culture since the mid 1950s. Today, the family is dedicated to doing the best job it can, knowing very well that what a landowner thinks may open the door to the next job or one on down the road.
Hardwood is the order of business for most days, with clear-cuts being the standard operation. “Occasionally we’ll do select cuts in hardwoods, but we do no thinning,” says Charlie Moore, Sr., owner of C&L Logging, one of the logging businesses owned by the Moore family.
Good Timing by Jennifer McCary
“It has been a very interesting year,” chuckles Greg Wahl, owner of WD Logging, Inc., in mid-December as he reflects on the year that broke so many records—most of which were not the kind you want to break. “We were so slow at the start, but it picked up pretty good in June. Then the rains came so we have been jumping around. It’s been interesting. I am hoping things will start opening up pretty soon.”
There were several rain events through the summer and into the fall. On one particular tract it got so wet they could skid, but they couldn’t get in to cut anything. Mother Nature was at it again in December, dumping so much rain that SLT’s visit had to be postponed a couple of days.
Less Is More by David Abbott
They say once you get sawdust in your bones or in your blood, you can’t get it out. You’re addicted, and won’t be happy with any other line of work. Usually, this happens early in life.
Many loggers get into the business by following the footsteps of their fathers. They have a good experience growing up in the woods, usually at a young age, and many times go to work full-time on their father’s crew the day after they graduate high school. Some continue to work in a partnership with their fathers, perhaps eventually inheriting a sole-ownership position, while many others sooner or later branch out into their own operations, separate and distinct.
Water Expands Again by Tonya Cooner-Vots
Serving the southeastern region of Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the “boot” of Louisiana, Waters International Trucks, Inc., located off south bound I-59 just south of Hattiesburg, is one of five locations owned by the Waters family, catering to the trucking, logging and school bus industries.
Two locations of Waters Truck & Tractor, as well as three locations operating as Waters International Trucks, Inc. are full service dealers for International trucks and International IC school buses, Barko loaders, and trailers, including Pitts, Eager Beaver and Benson. Dynamic Cone-Head chippers are the most recent addition to the Waters lineup.
Industry News Roundup
Current Industry News
On December 31 Franklin Equipment Co. filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Norfolk, Va. Chapter 7 bankruptcy seeks a total discharge of all debts.
Founded in Franklin, Va. in 1962 and owned by the Drake family since the outset, the company manufactured logging equipment (Franklin and Tree Farmer brands) and in recent years had incorporated some utility machines into its lineup. It also owns a retail machinery outlet in Louisburg, NC and a foundry in Independence, Ore. These businesses are also impacted by the legal action. As of late last year, Franklin employed about 60.
Southern Stumpin’
Remembering Mac Campbell
On January 15 my telephone rang with calls from friends linked to previous employment that a former friend and colleague, Kenneth McCaskill (Mac) Campbell, had lost his battle with cancer. Mac, 55, was on the team of North Florida Woodlands, the wood procurement organization of North Florida Lumber Co. and Rex Lumber Co., two leading companies that make pine lumber at mills in the Florida panhandle towns of Bristol and Graceville. Years ago, both Mac and I worked for Louisiana Pacific. That’s where I came to respect his determination and to appreciate his zest for life and sense of humor.
After giving it some thought, and knowing the character Mac was, I notified the folks at Hatton-Brown Publishers of Mac’s demise. I pointed out that Mac was certainly one of a kind, that rank-and-file foresters don’t get much ink and that they’re certainly an important component in the wood supply system. My point: Mac’s legacy had worth and deserved attention. I quickly got a call from co-